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StormSmart Properties Fact Sheet 4:

Bioengineering - Coir Rolls on Coastal Banks

The coast is a very dynamic environment and coastal shorelines—especially beaches, dunes, and banks—change

constantly in response to wind, waves, tides, and other factors such as seasonal variation, sea level rise, and human

alterations to the shoreline system. Consequently, many coastal properties are at risk from storm damage, erosion, and

flooding. Inappropriate shoreline stabilization methods can actually do more harm than good by exacerbating beach

erosion, damaging neighboring properties, impacting marine habitats, and diminishing the capacity of beaches, dunes,

and other natural landforms to protect inland areas from storm damage and flooding. StormSmart Properties—part of

the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management’s (CZM) StormSmart Coasts Program—provides coastal property

owners with important information on a range of shoreline stabilization techniques that can effectively reduce erosion

and storm damage while minimizing impacts to shoreline systems. This information is intended to help property owners

work with consultants and other design professionals to select the best option for their circumstances.

What Are Bioengineering and Coir Rolls?

Coastal bioengineering projects reduce erosion and stabilize eroding

shorelines by using a combination of deep-rooted plants and erosion-

control products made of natural, biodegradable materials, such as coir

rolls. Coir rolls are cylindrical rolls that span 12 to 20 inches in diameter,

are packed with coir fibers (i.e., coconut husk fibers), and are held

together with mesh. The rolls are typically 10- to 20-feet long and can

be stitched together to provide continuous shoreline coverage. In

contrast, coir envelopes are coir fabric filled with sand. Coir envelopes

have very different impacts and design considerations and should not

be confused with coir rolls.

As with all coastal bioengineering projects, salt-tolerant vegetation with

extensive root systems is used with coir rolls to help stabilize the site.

The vegetation is planted directly into the coir rolls and on the

surrounding site. For important instructions on using plants in

bioengineering projects, see the StormSmart Properties Fact Sheet 3:

Planting Vegetation to Reduce Erosion and Storm Damage, which

includes specific information on how vegetation reduces erosion and

storm damage; instructions on selecting, properly planting, and caring

for appropriate species; tips on maximizing the effectiveness of

vegetation projects and minimizing impacts; and specifics on project

design and implementation.

This fact sheet focuses on the use of coir rolls on coastal banks (also known as bluffs), where coir rolls are typically

installed at the toe (i.e., base) of the bank—although they can also be installed up the bank face. In coastal areas, coir

rolls can also be used to help reduce erosion problems created by hard structures (i.e., seawalls and revetments). See

“Appropriate Locations” in the Design Consideration section below for additional information.

No shoreline stabilization option

permanently stops all erosion or storm

damage. The level of protection provided

depends on the option chosen, project

design, and site-specific conditions such

as the exposure to storms. All options

require maintenance, and many also

require steps to address adverse impacts

to the shoreline system, called mitigation.

Some options, such as seawalls and other

hard structures, are only allowed in very

limited situations because of their

impacts to the shoreline system. When

evaluating alternatives, property owners

must first determine which options are

allowable under state, federal, and local

regulations and then evaluate their

expected level of protection, predicted

lifespan, impacts, and costs of project

design, installation, mitigation, and long-

term maintenance.

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Coir rolls are often used in conjunction with

other techniques for erosion management,

such as natural fiber blankets, runoff control,

and beach nourishment. Natural fiber blankets

are woven mats of natural fibers that are used

to stabilize the ground surface while plants

become established. Runoff control projects

reduce and slow the flow of water over the

ground surface, reducing coastal erosion

problems. Beach nourishment adds sediment

(i.e., sand, gravel, and cobble) from an off-site

source to address beach erosion issues. See the

following StormSmart Properties fact sheets

for more information: Controlling Overland Runoff to Reduce Coastal Erosion, Bioengineering - Natural Fiber Blankets on

Coastal Banks, and Beach Nourishment.

How Coir Rolls Reduce Storm Damage on Coastal Banks

If the toe of a bank is eroding, the upper bank may collapse even if it is well vegetated. Coir rolls can be used to

protect and stabilize the toe by providing a physical barrier that buffers waves, tides, and currents, reducing erosion of

exposed sediments.

Coir rolls provide stability and protection to the site while the vegetation planted in and above the rolls becomes

established. As the coir rolls disintegrate, typically over 5-7 years, the plants take over the job of site stabilization. The

dense root systems of the plants hold sand, gravel, and soils in place and help reduce erosion from rain, wind, tides, and

waves. In addition, by taking up water directly from the ground and breaking the impact of raindrops or wave-splash,

the plants slow the rate and reduce the quantity of upland

water runoff that can lead to erosion.

For sites exposed to high wave energy, it may be necessary

to replace and maintain coir rolls at the toe of the bank to

provide longer-term stability. If the beach in front of the

bank is narrow or narrows over time, if the beach

elevation is too low or erodes down over time, or if the

shoreline has a steep drop off below the low tide line, it

may be necessary to combine bioengineering with other

techniques, such as dune and beach nourishment, to

ensure a successful project. (See the following StormSmart

Properties fact sheets for more information: Artificial

Dunes and Dune Nourishment and Beach Nourishment.) A

professional with demonstrated success installing

bioengineering projects in dynamic environments should

be consulted to assess each site and make

recommendations regarding the appropriate technique or

combination of techniques.

This coir roll has been planted with vegetation prior to installation. (Photo: Wilkinson Ecological Design)

Waves and tides eroded the toe of this bank, causing this collapse of a well vegetated section of the bank face. (Photo: CZM)

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Top left: This photo shows an exposed bank that was eroding at two feet per year before coir rolls and erosion-control vegetation were installed.

Bottom left: This photo shows the site during installation of the coir rolls, which were placed at the toe and up the face of the bank. Natural fiber blankets were also installed on the bank face. The site was then planted with salt-tolerant vegetation.

Bottom right: This photo shows the same site 10 years after project completion. (Note: This site has survived Hurricane Irene and Hurricane Sandy.)

(Photos: New England Environmental)

Relative Benefits and Impacts Compared to Other Options

Coir rolls provide direct, physical protection to a bank. Because they are made from natural, biodegradable materials

and are planted with vegetation, coir rolls absorb much more wave energy than seawalls, rock revetments, or other

“hard” shoreline stabilization structures, which reflect significantly more of the wave energy that hits them onto

beaches or neighboring properties. The design of a hard structure affects how much wave energy is reflected, for

example vertical walls reflect more wave energy than sloping rock revetments. These reflected waves erode beaches in

front of and next to a hard structure, eventually undermining and reducing the effectiveness of the structure and leading

to costly repairs. This erosion also lowers the elevation of the beach in front of the structure, ultimately leading to a loss

of dry beach at high tide and reducing the beach’s value for storm damage protection, recreation, and wildlife habitat.

Coir roll projects also allow some natural erosion from the site while hard structures impede virtually all natural erosion

of sediment. Without this sediment supply, down-current areas of the beach system are subject to increased erosion. In

addition, coir rolls can often be installed without the use of mechanized equipment that can significantly impact the site.

Because they are made with natural fibers and planted with vegetation, coir rolls also help preserve the natural

character and habitat value of the coastal environment.

Like all shoreline stabilization options, however, coir roll projects can result in negative impacts when inappropriately

designed or sited. While less severe than with hard structures, coir rolls can reflect some wave energy and they can

inhibit the natural supply of sediment to down-current areas. Coir rolls made with synthetic materials or covered in wire

mesh can cause additional significant impacts. Synthetic and wire mesh that remains after the rolls are degraded or is

found on rolls that have been ripped away from a bank during a storm has the potential to entangle wildlife, disrupt

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navigation (e.g., by getting wrapped around boat

propellers), and harm recreational beach users

(e.g., rusted wire can puncture bare feet). To help

address this issue, local officials often require

identification tags to be sewn on coir rolls when they

are installed to ensure proper disposal if the rolls are

dislodged from the project site. In addition, wire mesh

should not be used on coastal sites and the use of

synthetic mesh should be minimized. For sites with

higher wave energy, it is often necessary to use high

density rolls (7-9 pounds per foot) in the bottom row, which are only available with synthetic mesh. This targeted use of

synthetic materials is preferable to using more structural options such as a rock revetment to stabilize the site, which

have greater adverse impacts.

Design Considerations for Coir Rolls on Coastal Banks

This section covers a variety of factors that should be considered to minimize adverse impacts and ensure successful

design, permitting, construction, and maintenance of coir roll bioengineering projects on a coastal banks.

Appropriate Locations

For coastal bank projects, coir rolls can be

used on both sheltered sites and sites

exposed to wave energy. However, they are

most effective in areas with higher beach

elevations with some dry beach at high tide,

where the rolls are not constantly subject to

erosion from tides and waves. If the dry

beach is narrow, the beach elevation is

relatively low, and/or the site is exposed to

moderate wave energy, more than one row

of coir rolls will likely be needed on the face

of the bank, as well as at the base. In these

exposed conditions, the rolls will have a

shorter lifespan and will require more

frequent maintenance such as resetting,

anchoring, or replacement. Additional erosion-control options may be needed at these sites, such as beach

nourishment (see StormSmart Properties Fact Sheet 8: Beach Nourishment). It is essential to have a site-specific

evaluation conducted by a professional with demonstrated experience and success implementing coir roll projects in

exposed settings to determine the viability of coir rolls in these areas.

In some cases, coir rolls can also be used to effectively reduce erosion from hard structures such as seawalls. Coir

rolls can be effectively installed at the base of and next to hard structures to help reduce erosion problems under

the structure and on neighboring properties. They are also used on the face of the bank above the structure to

stabilize the area.

Under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act, new

hard structures are typically prohibited on all beaches and

dunes. On coastal banks, hard structures are only allowed

when necessary to protect buildings permitted before

August 10, 1978, and only if no other alternative is feasible.

In many cases, coir roll projects and other non-structural

alternatives are therefore the only options available for

reducing erosion and storm damage on coastal properties.

A coir roll, natural fiber blanket, and fill were installed to minimize erosion at the end of this bulkhead. (Photo: Wilkinson Ecological Design)

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Cross-section of a bioengineering project on a bank in an exposed setting.

Establishing a Stable Slope

On banks, a stable slope is essential for project success. If the bottom of the bank has eroded and its slope is

steeper than the upper portion of the bank, the bank is likely unstable. Even when heavily planted with erosion-

control vegetation, banks with unstable slopes are extremely vulnerable to slumping or collapse that can endanger

property landward of the bank. Before installing coir rolls or planting vegetation, therefore, the bank slope should

be stabilized.

Ideally, soil of a similar type to that on the bank or beach is brought in as fill and added to the lower part of the bank

to create a slope that matches or is less steep than the upper slope. However, if adding fill brings the toe of the bank

within the reach of high tides, the fill will erode quickly and undermine the rest of the bank. In these cases, regrading

the bank slope by removing sediment from the top of the bank is a better option. While removing part of the upper

portion of the bank does reduce the land area of the property, it can be done in a controlled fashion that improves

the overall stability and storm-damage prevention capacity of the bank. And if the slope is not stabilized by either

adding fill at the bank toe or regrading the top of the bank, bank collapse during a storm could cause substantially

more loss of land area to the sea. In addition, any investment in coir rolls, vegetation, and other site stabilization

methods will be lost if the bank collapses. On sites where the top of the bank is well vegetated with mature, salt-

tolerant species with extensive roots, the appropriate approach to stabilize the bank should be carefully developed

by a professional with extensive experience successfully stabilizing similar sites.

Removing/Replacing Invasive Plants

Invasive plants (i.e., introduced species that thrive at the expense of native plants) should be removed and replaced

with appropriate native plants if they are preventing establishment of erosion-control vegetation on a bank. This

effort is particularly warranted when bank stability is severely compromised by the invasive plant. Because of their

tenacity, successful control of invasive plants can take years to accomplish and may require perpetual monitoring

and management. Effective ways to manage invasive species on the bank should therefore be incorporated into

project design. See StormSmart Properties Fact Sheet 3: Planting Vegetation to Reduce Erosion and Storm

Damage for more information.

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Controlling Erosion from Overland Runoff and Other Sources

To help ensure the success of newly planted vegetation, sources of erosion on the site—including upland runoff and

waves—should be identified and addressed as part of the site evaluation and design process. If overland runoff is

causing erosion, this runoff should be reduced or redirected to give newly planted vegetation the best chance of

survival (see StormSmart Properties Fact Sheet 2: Controlling Overland Runoff to Reduce Coastal Erosion for details).

In areas subject to regular erosion from waves, tides, currents, wind, and coastal storms, additional techniques can

be used to improve site protection. For example, beach nourishment (i.e., adding sediments, such as sand, gravel,

and cobble to widen the beach—see StormSmart Fact Sheet 8: Beach Nourishment) can protect coir roll projects by

widening beaches in areas with relatively narrow beaches at high tide.

Protecting Vegetation

In addition to controlling erosion (see above), other steps should be taken to protect vegetation. Exposed areas

should not be planted during the winter when the plants are dormant because wind or waves are likely to pull them

out before they can get established. To prevent trampling of plants, pedestrian access to the shoreline should be

restricted to designated access paths or walkways and the number of access points should be limited as much as

possible. Often, multiple properties can use a common access point. To limit shading impacts to vegetation, access

structures should be elevated on open pilings and their size should be minimized as much as possible.

Maintaining Sediment Supply to the System

Bank erosion is an important source of sediment to beaches and dunes in the shoreline system. To maintain this

sediment supply, projects using two or more rows of coir rolls can bring in sediment from an offsite source on a

regular basis (e.g., annually and after major storms) and place it on the beach in front of the rolls. This sediment will

also help provide storm damage protection to the site by dissipating wave energy before it reaches the bank.

Minimizing Reflected Wave Energy

The ends of a coir roll project

should be carefully designed to

minimize any redirection of waves

onto adjacent properties.

Tapering the rolls down in number

and height so that the project

blends in to the adjacent bank

helps address this problem.

Project Installation and Coir

Roll Anchoring

Coir rolls should be placed end to

end and laced together with jute

or coir twine to create continuous

rolls parallel to the shoreline. The

rolls are typically anchored by

stakes on the seaward side of the

rolls, earth anchor systems, or a

combination of these two

techniques. Wooden stakes are biodegradable but do not always hold well in areas with higher wave energy. Earth

anchors, which are typically used for sites exposed to higher rates of erosion, consist of a metal duckbill anchor that

This bioengineering project with coir rolls, natural fiber blankets, and vegetation was designed to minimize erosion on the adjacent property. At the end of the property, the number of rolls was tapered down to one and the bank’s slope was reduced and blended in to the adjacent bank. (Photo: CZM)

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extends into the bank and is connected to the coir roll by wire cables. Although earth anchors are not

biodegradable, exposed portions of the cable system can be cut off and removed after the coir rolls have broken

down to reduce marine debris impacts.

The anchoring system is critical to the success of the project. A professional is needed to determine the appropriate

number and type of anchors for the site. It is also essential that the installation be carefully supervised and

conducted by contractors with experience installing projects that have survived multiple storms. Anchors may need

to be tightened after a period of time. To improve the longevity of the project, a professional can monitor the rolls

over time and identify needed maintenance.

Coir rolls should be fully covered with sediment or tied into the existing bank at both ends of the project to minimize

the potential for waves to get behind the rolls and erode the bank. The project can fail if the ends of the coir rolls

become exposed.

Coir Roll Configuration and Size

The number of rows of coir rolls needed and their diameter depend on: 1) how exposed the site is to waves, 2) how

frequently waves reach the base of the bank, and 3) the steepness of the bank face. In more sheltered sites or on

relatively shallow bank slopes, one or two rows of 12-inch-diameter coir rolls may be sufficient. In more exposed

areas and on steeper banks, multiple rows of 20-inch-diameter rolls may be needed up the face of the bank to

provide effective site stabilization. The bottom row of coir rolls is often buried during installation to prevent

undermining by beach erosion during a storm. In some cases, two side-by-side rows of rolls are installed at the base

to provide more stability for the rows of rolls above.

Density of Coir Fibers

How densely the coconut husk fibers are packed into the coir rolls is also an important design element. While more

densely packed rolls provide greater initial erosion protection, loosely packed rolls can be more heavily planted

(because the vegetation can be easily inserted into the roll). This heavy planting allows the plants to become

established more quickly, allowing the plant roots to effectively stabilize the site as the coconut fibers degrade. Both

high-density and low-density coir rolls can be used together when heavily planted low-density rolls are installed

adjacent to high-density rolls to help ensure the high-density rolls become vegetated over time. The professional

designing the project should determine where rapid plant colonization or initial structural integrity is most

important and then design a mix of rolls accordingly.

Reducing Damage from Sun Exposure

Plants can be used to shade the rolls and slow the degradation of the coir fibers that occurs from exposure to

sunlight. The coir rolls can also be covered with sediment and natural fiber blankets (woven mats of natural fibers)

to shade the coir rolls and slow degradation.

Heavy Equipment

While heavy equipment is not typically needed for coir roll projects, a mini-excavator or other small mechanized

equipment may be necessary. Minimizing the use of heavy equipment can help reduce temporary disturbances

from the project. Access for any equipment must be carefully planned to avoid destruction of existing vegetation;

creation of ruts; destabilization of banks, beaches, or other landforms; impacts to wildlife and nesting habitat for

protected shorebird species (i.e., species that are considered endangered, threatened, or of special concern in

Massachusetts); and related impacts. When mechanical equipment is being used, contractors should keep

hazardous material spill containment kits on-site at all times in case there is a release of oil, gasoline, or other

toxic substances.

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Wildlife and Fisheries Protection

If the project is proposed in or adjacent to habitat for protected wildlife species or horseshoe crab spawning areas,

there may be limitations on the time of year that the project can be constructed. Information about the location of

these resources and special permitting requirements is available from the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species

Program of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (for protected wildlife species) and the

Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (for horseshoe crabs).

Permitting and Regulatory Standards

Most options for addressing coastal erosion, storm damage, and flooding are likely to require a permit under the

Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act through the local Conservation Commission. Additional permits may be needed

from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) Waterways Program and the U.S. Army

Corps of Engineers if the project footprint extends below the mean high water line or seaward of the reach of the

highest high tide of the year, respectively. Permits or approvals may also be required from other state agencies and local

departments, depending on the location and the work involved. Often, Conservation Commission staff are available to

meet with applicants to go over important factors that need to be considered early in the design process.

Generally, regulatory programs are supportive of projects that use non-structural approaches to manage coastal

erosion, such as coir rolls and vegetation, as opposed to hard structures. To obtain a permit, projects need to be

designed to comply with regulatory requirements, including minimizing or avoiding impacts to sensitive resource

areas such as horseshoe crab spawning areas and protected species habitat, which are protected by the various

regulatory programs.

Professional Services Required

An environmental professional with significant experience designing, implementing, and successfully maintaining coir

rolls and vegetation projects in coastal areas should be chosen to: 1) identify regulatory requirements and ensure the

project fully conforms with those requirements; 2) determine the size, density, and number of rows of coir rolls needed

based on site conditions (such as erosion history; exposure to winds, wave climate, and soil types; and runoff patterns);

3) determine whether natural fiber blankets, beach nourishment, or other techniques should be used in conjunction

with the rolls; 4) identify any additional site conditions (including oversteepened slopes, erosion from overland runoff,

and the presence of invasive species) that must be addressed; 5) select plant species and develop a plan for planting and

plant maintenance; 6) identify the volume and composition of fill (if needed to re-establish a stable slope); 7) determine

the best time of year to install the various components of the project; 8) develop an access plan if heavy equipment is

needed; 9) prepare plans for and oversee permitting; 10) prepare design specifications and oversee construction; and

11) monitor and maintain the project. To ensure that essential design elements are appropriately implemented,

construction should be conducted by a contractor with experience installing coir roll projects that have survived multiple

storms and carefully supervised by a consultant with significant experience and demonstrated success with coastal coir

roll projects. Monitoring and maintenance by a consultant with significant experience is also strongly recommended.

Project Timeline

It may take as little as four to eight months to have a bioengineering project with coir rolls designed, permitted, and

installed, assuming that only a Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act permit is required—but it can take longer,

depending on the factors involved. Factors influencing this timeline include the contractor’s experience with designing

and permitting similar projects, completeness of permit applications, special considerations in the permitting process

(such as objections by abutters, sensitive resources to be protected, and availability of access for construction), the need

for special timing to avoid impacts (e.g., a prohibition on construction during endangered species nesting season),

special timing needed for planting vegetation, and/or weather conditions during construction.

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Maintenance Requirements

Bioengineering projects with coir rolls and vegetation require ongoing maintenance to ensure their success.

Maintenance needs will depend, in part, on the proximity of the coir rolls to the reach of high tide, the elevation and

width of the beach, the frequency and severity of storms, and how established the plants are before a storm hits. To

maintain the project’s designed level of protection, the coir rolls and vegetation should be inspected regularly,

particularly after rain and coastal storms. Any storm damage should be addressed immediately to avoid further

deterioration—this includes replacing any sediment that erodes around the coir rolls, resetting or replacing coir rolls as

needed, and replanting vegetation (which may have to be conducted at the appropriate time of year). The more

frequently high tides and waves reach and overtop the coir rolls, the higher the likely erosion rate and deterioration rate

of the rolls. Erosion rates will be even higher if the site is not vegetated. Because the replacement of sediment and

plants removed by storms is typically necessary, the original permit application should include a maintenance plan. This

plan should specify any replacement materials and activities that may be used on the site and how the site will be

accessed so that maintenance can be conducted without additional permitting.

Experience with what works, what doesn’t, and how to adjust a design as site conditions change is very important to the

success of bioengineering projects, particularly in coastal areas. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that the

consultant who designed the project be involved in the monitoring and maintenance after any erosion from rain or

coastal storms.

Project Costs

With coir roll projects, a range of options are available that give increasing levels of protection with increased

construction costs. In addition, whenever you hire a professional to conduct work on your property, total costs are

expected to vary significantly based on site-specific considerations. The considerations that most influence the costs of

coir roll projects on coastal banks are: the severity of erosion, the width and elevation of the beach in front of the

bank, the grading needed to create a stable slope, the diameter and number of rows of rolls, and the type and size of

plants selected.

For comparison with other shoreline stabilization options, the relative costs for coir roll projects are:

Low-medium for design and permitting.

Medium-high for construction.

Low-medium for maintenance.

Low for mitigation.

See the StormSmart Properties chart, Relative Costs of Shoreline Stabilization Options (PDF, 99 KB), for a full comparison.

Additional Information

Bioengineering with coir rolls can be used in conjunction with many other techniques for erosion management. See the

following CZM StormSmart Properties fact sheets for additional information:

StormSmart Properties Fact Sheet 1: Artificial Dunes and Dune Nourishment

StormSmart Properties Fact Sheet 2: Controlling Overland Runoff to Reduce Coastal Erosion

StormSmart Properties Fact Sheet 3: Planting Vegetation to Reduce Erosion and Storm Damage

StormSmart Properties Fact Sheet 5: Bioengineering - Natural Fiber Blankets on Coastal Banks

StormSmart Properties Fact Sheet 8: Beach Nourishment

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The following publications and websites also provide valuable information on bioengineering with coir rolls and vegetation:

CZM’s Coastal Landscaping website includes information on landscaping coastal areas with salt-tolerant vegetation to reduce storm damage and erosion.

CZM’s Landscaping to Protect Your Coastal Property from Storm Damage and Flooding fact sheet (PDF, 962 KB) gives specific information for homeowners on appropriate plants for erosion control in coastal areas.

Woods Hole Sea Grant’s Marine Extension Bulletin, Biodegradable Erosion Control (PDF, 723 KB), provides information on various components of a coir roll project for coastal erosion control.

CZM’s Environmental Permitting in Massachusetts briefly describes major environmental permits required for projects proposed in Massachusetts.

Guidelines for Barrier Beach Management in Massachusetts (PDF, 12 MB), which was produced by the Massachusetts Barrier Beach Task Force in 1994, provides an overview of the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act Regulations and the function of beaches, dunes, and other resource areas (in Chapter 2). It also gives information on various erosion management techniques, their potential impacts, and measures to minimize those impacts (Chapter 5).

Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act Regulations (310 CMR 10.00) cover work in wetland resource areas and buffer zones.

The Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program website provides information on protected species in Massachusetts, habitat maps, and regulatory review for projects in or adjacent to these habitats.

The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries can provide information on horseshoe crab protection and other fisheries resources.

The Massachusetts Ocean Resource Information System, or MORIS, is a web-based mapping tool for interactively viewing coastal data. MORIS data layers, such as endangered species habitat and shellfish, can help identify sensitive resource areas within or near the project site.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Charlie Baker, Governor

Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Matthew A. Beaton, Secretary

Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management Bruce K. Carlisle, Director

Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management | 251 Causeway Street, Suite 800 | Boston, MA 02114 | (617) 626-1200

CZM Information Line: (617) 626-1212 | CZM Website: www.mass.gov/czm

This is a publication of the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Management (CZM) pursuant to the National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration Award No. NA12NOS4190086. This publication is funded (in part) by a grant/cooperative

agreement from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The views expressed herein are those of

the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of NOAA or any of its sub-agencies. This information is available in

alternate formats upon request.

Publication Date: December 2013, with updates in 2018

www.mass.gov/stormsmart-coasts-program